Dr Martin Edwards is afamily GP whose advice you can trust
What’s in my bits?
Q My husband has started to feel something hit the tip of his penis during sex. Could there be something stuck up there?
A If there’s something lodged inside your vagina, such as a tampon, it will usually give itself away with a smelly discharge after a few days. Your doctor can check for you, but chances are your hubby’s touching your cervix – the rubbery-feeling neck of your womb.
This usually sits at the very top of your vagina – however, if it’s come further down, that suggests a womb prolapse where the ligaments and muscles supporting your womb have weakened, usually due to childbirth and age.
At an early stage, pelvic floor exercises should do the trick, but if your prolapse becomes more severe or causes other symptoms such as difficulty controlling urine, then surgery or a supporting pessary inside your vagina, might be necessary.
Help! I can’t stop coughing
Q I’m fed up with constant catarrh and coughing all winter – is there any point in seeing my GP?
A The British winter is to blame here! Colds can leave us snotty and coughing for a couple of weeks, and a string of them can leave you feeling as if you’ll be reaching for the tissues forever.
However, a cough that lasts longer than three weeks, or catarrh symptoms – blocked or runny nose, crackling ears, phlegmy throat – lasting more than a few weeks, should be checked by your GP.
But usually it’s best to look after the symptoms yourself. Don’t smoke, avoid smoky places, drink plenty of fluids including hot steamy drinks, and humidify the air – wet towels over radiators can help. Prop yourself up in bed, as a more upright position makes it easier to breathe. Your chemist can help with cough linctus, or rinses to clear your nose.
Tickly trouble
Q Why do my testicles always get so itchy at this time of year and ho
